5 Common Key Light Patterns

Today, we are going to talk about something very simple and complex; the key light. The “Key” or main light is a light that most photographers are quite familiar with. But, often times we forget the reasons or typical uses for each type of Key light pattern. Lighting can get very complicated BUT, here at SLR Lounge we are going to keep it simple and teach you 5 common key light patterns and give you situations and typical uses for each one.

5 COMMON KEY LIGHT PATTERNS | SLIDE

In our workshop, we include over 70 slides like the one you see below to help you memorize and study the main concepts.

KEY LIGHT PATTERN 1. FLAT LIGHTING

Flat Lighting Definition:
The first key (or primary/main) common lighting pattern that you should be familiar with is flat lighting. Flat lighting faces directly into the subject from the angle of the lens. Flat lighting is the least dramatic lighting pattern because it casts the least amount of shadows on the subject’s face.

Flat Lighting Placement:
Place your key in front of the subject in the same direction where you will be shooting. Angle the light so it lays “flat” on the face. This makes it a very flattering light for portraits because it decreases wrinkles and imperfections. Also, when using flat light, remember to light from slightly above the subject’s face. Lighting from below will create an unnatural and unflattering look.

M - Flat Head — Lighting 101 Workshop – Flat Light Placement

Flat Lighting Common Uses:
Because this light is a very flattering light, flat lighting is used primarily in headshots and glamour editorial shots.

Flat Lighting Example:

KEY LIGHT PATTERN 2. BUTTERFLY LIGHTING

Butterfly Lighting Definition:
Butterfly Lighting (or Paramount Lighting) comes directly in front and above the subject’s face. This creates shadows that are directly below the subject’s facial features. The most notable shadow, and where this lighting pattern gets its name, is a butterfly shaped shadow just under the nose. It is also called “Paramount Lighting” because this lighting pattern was used heavily in the Paramount movie studio of old Hollywood.

Butterfly Lighting Placement:
Start the key light in the flat light pattern, then raise the light up until you see the “butterfly” shaped shadow under your subject’s nose. Angle the face of your light so it points at your subject. The only difference between flat lighting and butterfly lighting is the height and angle of the Key Light. This creates the same flattering features as flat lighting but includes shadows underneath the nose and chin.

5-common-key-light-patterns-07 — Lighting 101 Workshop – Butterfly Light Placement

Butterfly Lighting Common Uses:
This lighting pattern is usually used in beauty shots when a reflector is added underneath to soften the shadows.

Butterfly Lighting Example:

KEY LIGHT PATTERN 3. LOOP LIGHTING

Loop Lighting Definition:
Loop lighting is probably one of the most common key lighting patterns. From our Lighting 101 Workshop slide, we see that it falls right in the middle between flattering flat light to dramatic split light. Loop Light is a nice middle ground where most of the face is still in light but you still have enough shadows to bring in some definition.

Loop Lighting Placement:
Loop Lighting evolves from Butterfly Lighting very simply. If you already know how to get to Butterfly lighting, all you need to do is move your light around the subject until you get roughly 25°-50° to the left or right and angled down to the subject’s face.

5-common-key-light-patterns-08 — Lighting 101 Workshop – Loop Light Placement

Loop Lighting Common Uses:
Because the light pattern comes from this angle, it creates a more dramatic look with a shadow that falls off the nose pointing down to one side. The subject will have more light on one side of their face. You can use this to your advantage if the subject has a “good” side or a preferred side of their face by lighting that side.

Loop Lighting Example:

KEY LIGHT PATTERN 4. REMBRANDT LIGHTING

Rembrandt Lighting Definition:
The master Dutch painter Rembrandt used this style of lighting in many of his paintings thus honoring this widely known lighting pattern in his name. While it is true that many Baroque painters used Rembrandt lighting in their paintings as well, Rembrandt’s name was chosen to define this widely used lighting pattern (Also Vsnderveer lighting just sounds horrible). Rembrandt lighting can be distinguished by half of the subject’s face in shadow except for triangle-shaped light on the cheekbone and eye.

Rembrandt Lighting Placement:
From your Loop Lighting position, move your key light around the subject until the shadow of the nose is touching the shadow of the face. This primarily leaves one side of the face in shadow but keeps a triangle of light on the cheekbone and eye.

5-common-key-light-patterns-09 — Lighting 101 Workshop – Rembrandt Light Placement

Rembrandt Lighting Common Uses:
Rembrandt is a stronger angle than loop lighting, making it look more dramatic. The more shadow we add to our subject and the more we turn our light away from flat lighting the more dramatic our lighting becomes. It is used heavily in all types of portrait photography including athletes. It is also the type of lighting we used in the video above!

Rembrandt Lighting Example:

rembrandt-lighting-studio — Rembrandt Lighting

KEY LIGHT PATTERN 5. SPLIT LIGHTING

Split Lighting Definition:
The last lighting pattern we will discuss today is split lighting. Split lighting simply “splits” the subject’s face, lighting half of your subject’s face while leaving the other half in shadow. Because of the angle of light, there is no Rembrandt triangle, only shadow.

Split Lighting Placement:
Set up the key light 90° directly to the right or left side of the subject’s face. The line separating light and shadow will be down the middle of the nose and chin. This creates the most dramatic light and the least flattering light to use.

5-common-key-light-patterns-10 — Lighting 101 Workshop – Split Light Placement

Split Lighting Common Uses:
If flat and loop lighting fills in wrinkles, split lighting will exaggerate them. This lighting pattern is used a lot in athletic portraits just for that purpose. It exaggerates their muscle definition and body features.

Split Lighting Example:

CONCLUSION

These are the basics, now remember in this demonstration all you see is just the key light. There are no secondary lights or modifiers in these images, but you can do so much more once you get these fundamentals down. Setting up your key light for what you want will save you time and unneeded frustration in post. We guarantee that if you understand these 5 common key light patterns, you will instantly start to create more images the way you want to, whether they be flattering or dramatic.

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Lighting 101: 5 Common Key Light Patterns